Coleman seeks venue change; request filed

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Lawyers for Chris Coleman filed a request for a change of venue Monday. They claim the former Chester resident cannot receive a fair trial in Monroe County due to vast media coverage.

Coleman, 32, has been charged with the murders of his wife Sheri Coleman, 31, and his sons Gavin, 9, and Garett, 11. Their strangled bodies were found in their Columbia home back in May. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Coleman has entered a not guilty plea.

His lawyers polled more than 1,400 residents in Monroe County and found that 89 percent knew about the crimes and 77 percent of them believe Coleman is guilty.

A ruling on the motion is expected later this month.

Last week, Coleman's former employer, Joyce Meyer Ministries, was dropped as a "respondent in discovery" in a lawsuit on behalf of Sheri Coleman's family. However, lawyers in that case say Joyce Meyer Ministries could still be named as a defendant in the case.

The televangelist was dropped after a judge's ruling that he could not compel witnesses to testify because depositions were not conducted on time. But, if Joyce Meyer is named as a defendant, the deposition process would begin anew and she could be compelled to testify.

Lawyers contend that members of Joyce Meyer Ministries knew and should have reported to Sheri Coleman and the police that her husband was a threat to her.

Mike King, an attorney for the ministry, expressed gratitude for the ruling on the respondent in discovery issue and said he hoped the court will recognize that the ministry doesn't belong in the case as a defendant.